2023 Hal Kendig Research Development Program recipients

AAG congratulates the following members on their successful applications for the 2023 Hal Kendig Research Development Program grants:

Awardee: Dr Abby Haynes

Affiliation: University of Sydney

Grant: $19,958

Delivering exercise in aged care services to improve quality of life: Co-designing the TOP-UP program app

Dr Abby Haynes is a qualitative researcher with a background in social work and diversity health in Australia and the UK. She has a PhD in public health, and an MA in information and knowledge management. She leads the qualitative community of practice at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, where her work in healthy ageing and physical activity focuses on understanding how and why interventions work (or not) from the perspectives of health professionals and consumers. This is informed by interests in systems thinking, realist evaluation and multidisciplinary collaboration, including with consumers, service providers and policymakers.

The aim of this project is to co-design a digital app to increase the ease and reach of delivery of the successful TOP-UP program in residential and home aged care services. It builds on successful research conducted by a multidisciplinary, cross-sector stakeholder collaboration that includes aged care providers and will provide them with a fit-for-purpose program and delivery app that has been developed and tested by their stakeholders in their service contexts. The TOP-UP app will address equity by increasing access to physiotherapy services and an individually tailored exercise program, especially for those living in rural and underserved areas where these services are rare.

Awardee: Dr Steph Garratt

Affiliation: Monash University

Grant: $19,605

More than a clinical activity: Supporting aged care residents’ choice, dignity, and engagement with medication administration

Dr Steph Garratt is an early career researcher, with skills in mixed methods research and healthcare ethics. Her PhD investigated medication omissions in New Zealand residential aged care and the ethical considerations that may apply in these instances. She has worked with organisations, professionals and older adults across the healthcare spectrum, and brings a unique perspective to challenges and opportunities in clinical practice. Steph worked as a Research Officer at the National Ageing Research Institute for several years before joining Monash University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her current role as a Research Fellow enables her to pursue her passion for research into medication administration, aged care, consumer input into care, and ethics in practice.
 
Medication giving is a central clinical activity in aged care facilities. This project focuses on how to feasibly enable and integrate residents’ and their families’ preferences into this clinical activity. It aims to understand the everyday experiences of medication giving from the perspectives of aged care residents, their family, and staff, and to establish what strategies and supports could improve engagement and support resident autonomy, dignity, and choice around medication giving.